Since 2014, High-Contrast Imaging (HCI) capabilities have been deployed on large ground-based telescops with several Extreme Adaptive Optics (ExAO) systems such as the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI)[1]} and the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch instrument (SPHERE)[2]}. These systems all share a similar architecture: they employ a high-order wavefront sensor (WFS) and a deformable mirror (DM) to correct for atmospheric turbulence enabling high Strehl ratio in the near-infrared (NIR) (\(\approx \) 90%), while a coronagraph is used to suppress on-axis starlight downstream. The main goal of these systems is the direct detection of exoplanets and planet-forming disks [3]}, [4]}, [5]}, [6]}, [7]}, [8]}, [9]}. Moreover, these systems are crucial to test the necessary technologies that future HCI system for future Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs)[10]}, [11]}, [12]} will require. The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO)[13]} has also evolved into a HCI system for past 12 years. Likewise, it can be used as a testbed to test and deploy new concepts or algorithms for HCI approaches for future ELTs, using the latest hardware and software technologies on an 8-meter class telescope.
In this paper, we present the current status and overview of the SCExAO, especially the main components for the HCI system and science modules that can be used for competitive science. Also, we present the current collaborations including hardware and algorithms. Finally, we introduce the detail of the major upgrades planned for SCExAO and AO188, that will bring the instrument closer to a system-level demonstrator for future ELTs.
